noun
a kind of helmet without beaver or visor, worn by soldiers in the 16th and 17th centuries
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Word 2061: Morion
noun
a kind of helmet without beaver or visor, worn by soldiers in the 16th and 17th centuries
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Word 2060: Petite bourgeoisie
noun ( the petite bourgeoisie) [ treated as sing. or pl.]
the lower middle class
the lower middle class
Word 2059: Gudgeon
noun
1. a small, edible, European freshwater fish, often used as bait by anglers
2. a credulous or easily fooled person
1. a small, edible, European freshwater fish, often used as bait by anglers
2. a credulous or easily fooled person
Word 2058: Sine die
adverb
(with reference to business or proceedings that have been adjourned) with no appointed date for resumption
(with reference to business or proceedings that have been adjourned) with no appointed date for resumption
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Word 2057: Djellaba
noun
a loose hooded cloak, typically woolen, of a kind traditionally worn by Arabs
Word 2056: Bastion
noun
a projecting part of a fortification built at an angle to the line of a wall, so as to allow defensive fire in several directions
• a natural rock formation resembling such a fortification
• figurative an institution, place, or person strongly defending or upholding particular principles, attitudes, or activities
a projecting part of a fortification built at an angle to the line of a wall, so as to allow defensive fire in several directions
• a natural rock formation resembling such a fortification
• figurative an institution, place, or person strongly defending or upholding particular principles, attitudes, or activities
Word 2055: Réclame
noun
public acclaim; notoriety
• a hunger for publicity or flair for getting attention
public acclaim; notoriety
• a hunger for publicity or flair for getting attention
Word 2054: Synecdoche
noun
a figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa, as in Cleveland won by six runs (meaning “Cleveland's baseball team”)
a figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa, as in Cleveland won by six runs (meaning “Cleveland's baseball team”)
Word 2053: Matzo
noun ( pl. -zos or -zoth)
a thin, crisp unleavened bread, traditionally eaten by Jews during Passover
Word 2052: Wormwood
noun
1. a woody shrub with a bitter aromatic taste, used, esp. formerly, as an ingredient of vermouth and absinthe and in medicine
2. figurative a state or source of bitterness or grief
1. a woody shrub with a bitter aromatic taste, used, esp. formerly, as an ingredient of vermouth and absinthe and in medicine
2. figurative a state or source of bitterness or grief
Word 2051: Squib
noun
1. a small firework that burns with a hissing sound before exploding
• a short piece of satirical writing
• a short news item or filler in a newspaper
2. a small, slight, or weak person, esp. a child
3. Football a short kick on a kickoff
• Baseball (also squibber) a blooper or infield grounder that becomes a base hit
1. a small firework that burns with a hissing sound before exploding
• a short piece of satirical writing
• a short news item or filler in a newspaper
2. a small, slight, or weak person, esp. a child
3. Football a short kick on a kickoff
• Baseball (also squibber) a blooper or infield grounder that becomes a base hit
Word 2050: Turista
noun informal
diarrhea as suffered by travelers when visiting certain foreign countries
diarrhea as suffered by travelers when visiting certain foreign countries
Word 2049: Neem
noun
a tropical Old World tree that yields mahoganylike timber, oil, medicinal products, and insecticide
a tropical Old World tree that yields mahoganylike timber, oil, medicinal products, and insecticide
Word 2048: Rabbet
noun
a step-shaped recess cut along the edge or in the face of a piece of wood, typically forming a match to the edge or tongue of another piece
Word 2047: Diddle
verb informal
1. [ trans.] (usu. be diddled) cheat or swindle (someone) so as to deprive them of something
• deliberately falsify (something)
2. [ intrans.] informal pass time aimlessly or unproductively
• ( diddle with) play or mess with
3. [ trans.] vulgar slang have sexual intercourse with (someone)
1. [ trans.] (usu. be diddled) cheat or swindle (someone) so as to deprive them of something
• deliberately falsify (something)
2. [ intrans.] informal pass time aimlessly or unproductively
• ( diddle with) play or mess with
3. [ trans.] vulgar slang have sexual intercourse with (someone)
Word 2046: Sumi
noun
a type of black Japanese ink prepared in solid sticks and used for painting and writing
a type of black Japanese ink prepared in solid sticks and used for painting and writing
Word 2044: Testatrix
noun ( pl. -trices or -trixes) Law
a woman who has made a will or given a legacy
a woman who has made a will or given a legacy
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Word 2043: Stipe
noun Botany
a stalk or stem, esp. the stem of a seaweed or fungus or the stalk of a fern frond
Word 2042: Petiole
noun Botany
the stalk that joins a leaf to a stem; leafstalk
• Zoology a slender stalk between two structures, esp. that between the abdomen and thorax of a wasp or ant
Word 2041: Fado
noun ( pl. -dos)
a type of popular Portuguese song, usually with a melancholy theme and accompanied by mandolins or guitars
• the music for such a song
a type of popular Portuguese song, usually with a melancholy theme and accompanied by mandolins or guitars
• the music for such a song
Word 2040: Bridgehead
noun
a strong position secured by an army inside enemy territory from which to advance or attack
a strong position secured by an army inside enemy territory from which to advance or attack
Word 2039: Reave
verb ( past and past part. reft) [ intrans.] archaic
carry out raids in order to plunder
• [ trans.] rob (a person or place) of something by force
• [ trans.] steal (something)
carry out raids in order to plunder
• [ trans.] rob (a person or place) of something by force
• [ trans.] steal (something)
Word 2036: Intersex
noun
the abnormal condition of being intermediate between male and female; hermaphroditism
• an individual in this condition; a hermaphrodite
the abnormal condition of being intermediate between male and female; hermaphroditism
• an individual in this condition; a hermaphrodite
Word 2035: Tenesmus
noun Medicine
a continual or recurrent inclination to evacuate the bowels, caused by disorder of the rectum or other illness
a continual or recurrent inclination to evacuate the bowels, caused by disorder of the rectum or other illness
Word 2034: Astrobleme
noun Geology
an eroded remnant of a large crater made by the impact of a meteorite or comet
Word 2032: Switch-hitter
noun Baseball
a batter who can hit from either side of home plate
• informal a bisexual
a batter who can hit from either side of home plate
• informal a bisexual
Word 2030: Tarboosh
noun
a man's cap similar to a fez, typically of red felt with a tassel at the top
Word 2028: Wigwag
verb [ intrans.] informal
move to and fro
• signal by waving an arm, flag, light, or other object
move to and fro
• signal by waving an arm, flag, light, or other object
Word 2025: Epexegesis
noun ( pl. -ses)
the addition of words to clarify meaning
• words added for such a purpose
the addition of words to clarify meaning
• words added for such a purpose
Word 2023: Minyan
noun ( pl. minyanim)
a quorum of ten men (or in some synagogues, men and women) over the age of 13 required for traditional Jewish public worship
• a meeting of Jews for public worship
a quorum of ten men (or in some synagogues, men and women) over the age of 13 required for traditional Jewish public worship
• a meeting of Jews for public worship
Word 2022: Scrim
noun
strong, coarse fabric, chiefly used for heavy-duty lining or upholstery
• Theater a piece of gauze cloth that appears opaque until lit from behind, used as a screen or backdrop
• a similar heatproof cloth put over film or television lamps to diffuse the light
• a thing that conceals or obscures something
Word 2020: Revetment
noun
(esp. in fortification) a retaining wall or facing of masonry or other material, supporting or protecting a rampart, wall, etc.
• a barricade of earth or sandbags set up to provide protection from blast or to prevent planes from overrunning when landing
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Word 2019: Sic
adverb
used in brackets after a copied or quoted word that appears odd or erroneous to show that the word is quoted exactly as it stands in the original, as in a story must hold a child's interest and “enrich his [ sic ] life”
used in brackets after a copied or quoted word that appears odd or erroneous to show that the word is quoted exactly as it stands in the original, as in a story must hold a child's interest and “enrich his [ sic ] life”
Word 2018: Arhat
noun
(in Buddhism and Jainism) someone who has attained the goal of the religious life
(in Buddhism and Jainism) someone who has attained the goal of the religious life
Word 2016: Passant
adjective [usu. postpositive] Heraldry
(of an animal) represented as walking, with the right front foot raised. The animal is depicted in profile facing the dexter (left) side with the tail raised, unless otherwise specified (e.g., as “passant guardant”)
Word 2015: Soft-shoe
verb [ intrans.]
perform a dance of this kind
• [ intrans.] move quietly and carefully so as not to draw attention to oneself
perform a dance of this kind
• [ intrans.] move quietly and carefully so as not to draw attention to oneself
Word 2013: Skiffle
noun
(in the U.S.) a style of 1920s and 1930s jazz deriving from blues, ragtime, and folk music, using both improvised and conventional instruments
(in the U.S.) a style of 1920s and 1930s jazz deriving from blues, ragtime, and folk music, using both improvised and conventional instruments
Word 2012: Prie-dieu
noun ( pl. prie-dieux)
a piece of furniture for use during prayer, consisting of a kneeling surface and a narrow upright front with a rest for the elbows or for books
Word 2009: Ommatophore
noun Zoology
a part of an invertebrate animal, esp. a stalk or tentacle, that bears an eye
a part of an invertebrate animal, esp. a stalk or tentacle, that bears an eye
Word 2007: Scrag
verb [ trans.] informal
handle roughly; beat up
• kill, esp. by strangling or hanging
handle roughly; beat up
• kill, esp. by strangling or hanging
Word 2006: Cladogenesis
noun Biology
the formation of a new group of organisms or higher taxon by evolutionary divergence from an ancestral form
the formation of a new group of organisms or higher taxon by evolutionary divergence from an ancestral form
Word 2004: Monkey jacket
noun
a short, close-fitting jacket worn by sailors or waiters or by officers in their mess
Word 2002: Formicary
noun ( pl. -caries; -caria)
an ant's nest, esp. one in an artificial container for purposes of study
an ant's nest, esp. one in an artificial container for purposes of study
Word 2001: Rector
noun
1. (in the Episcopal Church) a member of the clergy who has charge of a parish
• (in the Roman Catholic Church) a priest in charge of a church or of a religious institution
• (in the Church of England) the incumbent of a parish where all tithes formerly passed to the incumbent
2. the head of certain universities, colleges, and schools
1. (in the Episcopal Church) a member of the clergy who has charge of a parish
• (in the Roman Catholic Church) a priest in charge of a church or of a religious institution
• (in the Church of England) the incumbent of a parish where all tithes formerly passed to the incumbent
2. the head of certain universities, colleges, and schools
Word 1995: Lek
noun
a patch of ground used for communal display in the breeding season by the males of certain birds and mammals, esp. black grouse
a patch of ground used for communal display in the breeding season by the males of certain birds and mammals, esp. black grouse
Word 1994: Pogrom
noun
an organized massacre of a particular ethnic group, in particular that of Jews in Russia or eastern Europe
an organized massacre of a particular ethnic group, in particular that of Jews in Russia or eastern Europe
Word 1992: Maar
noun Geology
a broad, shallow crater, typically filled by a lake, formed by a volcanic explosion with little lava
Word 1989: Tamasha
noun Indian
a grand show, performance, or celebration, esp. one involving dance
• [ in sing.] a fuss or confusion
a grand show, performance, or celebration, esp. one involving dance
• [ in sing.] a fuss or confusion
Word 1988: Hastate
adjective Botany
(of a leaf) having a narrow triangular shape like that of a spearhead
(of a leaf) having a narrow triangular shape like that of a spearhead
Word 1987: Grubstake
noun informal
an amount of material, provisions, or money supplied to an enterprise (originally a prospector for ore) in return for a share in the resulting profits
an amount of material, provisions, or money supplied to an enterprise (originally a prospector for ore) in return for a share in the resulting profits
Word 1985: Smut
noun
1. a small flake of soot or other dirt : all those black smuts from the engine
• a mark or smudge made by such a flake
2. a fungal disease of grains in which parts of the ear change to black powder
3. obscene or lascivious talk, writing, or pictures
1. a small flake of soot or other dirt : all those black smuts from the engine
• a mark or smudge made by such a flake
2. a fungal disease of grains in which parts of the ear change to black powder
3. obscene or lascivious talk, writing, or pictures
Word 1984: Lanner
noun
a falcon with a dark brown back and buff cap, found in southeastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa
Word 1982: Tar pit
noun
a hollow in which natural tar accumulates by seepage
• figurative a complicated or difficult situation or problem
a hollow in which natural tar accumulates by seepage
• figurative a complicated or difficult situation or problem
Word 1980: Sampan
noun
a small boat of a kind used in the Far East, typically with an oar or oars at the stern
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Word 1979: Means test
noun
an official investigation into someone's financial circumstances to determine whether they are eligible for a welfare payment or other public funds
an official investigation into someone's financial circumstances to determine whether they are eligible for a welfare payment or other public funds
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Word 1976: Torchère
noun
a tall ornamental flat-topped stand, traditionally used as a stand for a candlestick.
Word 1974: Rajah
noun historical
an Indian king or prince
• a title extended to petty dignitaries and nobles in India during the British Raj
• a title extended by the British to a Malay or Javanese ruler or chief
an Indian king or prince
• a title extended to petty dignitaries and nobles in India during the British Raj
• a title extended by the British to a Malay or Javanese ruler or chief
Word 1973: Knacker
noun
a person whose business is the disposal of dead or unwanted animals, esp. those whose flesh is not fit for human consumption
a person whose business is the disposal of dead or unwanted animals, esp. those whose flesh is not fit for human consumption
Word 1972: Howdah
noun
(in the Indian subcontinent) a seat for riding on the back of an elephant or camel, typically with a canopy and accommodating two or more people
Word 1971: Orthoepy
noun
the correct or accepted pronunciation of words
• the study of correct or accepted pronunciation
the correct or accepted pronunciation of words
• the study of correct or accepted pronunciation
Word 1970: Satrap
noun
a provincial governor in the ancient Persian empire
• any subordinate or local ruler
a provincial governor in the ancient Persian empire
• any subordinate or local ruler
Word 1969: Fugue
noun
1. Music a contrapuntal composition in which a short melody or phrase (the subject) is introduced by one part and successively taken up by others and developed by interweaving the parts
2. Psychiatry a state or period of loss of awareness of one's identity, often coupled with flight from one's usual environment, associated with certain forms of hysteria and epilepsy
1. Music a contrapuntal composition in which a short melody or phrase (the subject) is introduced by one part and successively taken up by others and developed by interweaving the parts
2. Psychiatry a state or period of loss of awareness of one's identity, often coupled with flight from one's usual environment, associated with certain forms of hysteria and epilepsy
Word 1966: Thumbsucker
noun derogatory
a serious piece of journalism that concentrates on the background and interpretation of events rather than on the news or action; a think piece
• a journalist who writes in this style
a serious piece of journalism that concentrates on the background and interpretation of events rather than on the news or action; a think piece
• a journalist who writes in this style
Word 1965: Brahman
noun
1. member of the highest Hindu caste, that of the priesthood
2. an ox of a humped breed originally domesticated in India that is tolerant of heat and drought and is now kept widely in tropical and warm-temperate countries
1. member of the highest Hindu caste, that of the priesthood
2. an ox of a humped breed originally domesticated in India that is tolerant of heat and drought and is now kept widely in tropical and warm-temperate countries
Word 1964: Shamateur
noun derogatory
a sports player who makes money from sports though classified as amateur
a sports player who makes money from sports though classified as amateur
Word 1963: Pomander
noun
a ball or perforated container of sweet-smelling substances such as herbs and spices, placed in a closet, drawer, or room to perfume the air or (formerly) carried as a supposed protection against infection
• a piece of fruit, typically an orange or apple, studded with cloves and hung in a closet by a ribbon for a similar purpose
Word 1962: Mafic
adjective Geology
relating to, denoting, or containing a group of dark-colored, mainly ferromagnesian minerals such as pyroxene and olivine
relating to, denoting, or containing a group of dark-colored, mainly ferromagnesian minerals such as pyroxene and olivine
Word 1961: Exudate
noun
an exuded substance, in particular
• Medicine a mass of cells and fluid that has seeped out of blood vessels or an organ, esp. in inflammation
• Botany & Entomology a substance secreted by a plant or insect
an exuded substance, in particular
• Medicine a mass of cells and fluid that has seeped out of blood vessels or an organ, esp. in inflammation
• Botany & Entomology a substance secreted by a plant or insect
Word 1960: Neap tide
noun (usu. neap tide)
a tide just after the first or third quarters of the moon when there is the least difference between high and low water
a tide just after the first or third quarters of the moon when there is the least difference between high and low water
Word 1957: Villein
noun
(in medieval England) a feudal tenant entirely subject to a lord or manor to whom he paid dues and services in return for land
(in medieval England) a feudal tenant entirely subject to a lord or manor to whom he paid dues and services in return for land
Word 1956: Eclose
verb [ intrans.] Entomology
(of an insect) emerge as an adult from the pupa or as a larva from the egg
(of an insect) emerge as an adult from the pupa or as a larva from the egg
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Word 1954: Canzone
noun ( pl. canzoni)
an Italian or Provençal song or ballad
• a type of lyric resembling a madrigal
an Italian or Provençal song or ballad
• a type of lyric resembling a madrigal
Word 1953: Defeasance
noun Law
the action or process of rendering something null and void
• a clause or condition which, if fulfilled, renders a deed or contract null and void
the action or process of rendering something null and void
• a clause or condition which, if fulfilled, renders a deed or contract null and void
Word 1951: Amphora
noun ( pl. -rae or -ras)
a tall ancient Greek or Roman jar with two handles and a narrow neck
Word 1950: Potentiate
verb [ trans.] technical
increase the power, effect, or likelihood of (something, esp. a drug or physiological reaction)
increase the power, effect, or likelihood of (something, esp. a drug or physiological reaction)
Word 1949: Sarcoma
noun ( pl. -mas or -mata) Medicine
a malignant tumor of connective or other nonepithelial tissue
a malignant tumor of connective or other nonepithelial tissue
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